If you were to buy yourself a birthday card, what would you write in it.

Scroll down to read my " Note To Self ".

To Me

Happy Birthday baby girl!

You've beaten the odds in so many ways.

I've watched you grow into the person I only imagined I would be.

Peeling each layer and getting to know yourself thoroughly,

analysing your marinade in small careful details,

slowly and gently pouring self love, like gold into the cracks the world created in you.

You have risen up despite your insecurities,

risen up despite your experiences,

risen inspite of the paths paved before you understood how to pave your own.

you've risen through each challenge you've faced from the day you were born,

you've risen so many times, I know you will rise up a thousand more

because of who you are.

" I love you "

I truly, deeply do,

younger you would have found that hard to say to herself,

she thought she was more broken than whole and

believed there was no way forward, but you showed her.

You showed her how to love herself and how to like her existence.

You showed her how to understand herself thoroughly within.

You taught her ,taught her to have patience and fight for EVERYTHING she wants.

you taught her that she IS in control.

You taught her how to love others right and to check herself when shes doing it wrong.

You taught her that there is value in ALWAYS leaving people better than you found them.

You taught her that the smile on her soul is just as significant as the smile on her face.

You taught her to be patient with toxic emotions and how to lead them into leaving her instead of leaving them to lead her.

Instead of being drawn into people's storms,you've mastered pulling others into your peace with so much empathy and patience.Grown to understand that you shouldn't expectsunshine and clear skies fromstorms.You've inspire me, in so many ways.On so many days.

So on this day, I want you to know,

You're a beautiful creation

and on any day you may find yourself thinking otherwise,

I want you to always believe in your truth, your strength and your place on this earth.affirm and push yourself to be better than you've ever been.Bath in self love daily.

You've come so far.You've been told your whole life that you're destined for greatnessand sweet girl, here you are closer to your dreams, because of the very love you've nurtured for you,

A toast to Lydia,

Love from Lily

" You've got so much light, I bet the most beautiful flowers grow towards you " - unknown

When you’re born, you'll hear the words “Its a boy" and from that point onwards society will try to hand you this persona, gradually sweet talking you into wanting to be what it wants you to be, it'll try to mold you into this sugarcoated version of a physically strong, emotionally weak, big ego personality, then it'll tell you "that is how a "real man" behaves.

Wisdom (Noun) The ability to use your own knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgements.

Wisdom will teach you otherwise. It'll teach you to find yourself and become one with your soul, physically AND spiritual strong, it'll teach the beauty of love, compassion and leadership. Before I even met your father I promised myself I’d marry a man who could show our son exactly how to be a man and let him be a boy when he needs to be. So when I look at you, I’ll see that promise fulfilled. I’m not worried about what society tells you for that very reason, because I truly believe you will be surrounded by wisdom

There are five fundamental things I want you to always understand and those are,

1. No human is ever above or below you, equal and mutual respect is EVERYTHING! Treat the people who cant do anything for you exactly the way you treat the ones who can. Always leave people better than you found them.

2. Although having a strong character is what is expected from a boy, don't ever be afraid to show your true emotions when necessary, Communicating your fragility to the people who love you is a sign of strength NOT weakness.

3. Set objectives and outline the guidelines on how you will achieve those objectives. Then follow them one by one, meanwhile, remembering that being a man of your word brings blessings into your life, words are nothing unless they are followed by actions.

4. Don’t ever neglect family. Some will want to see you succeed and others wont want you to level up. Find a balance between the two and control it. Your only responsibility is to release good energy and love.

5. Treat women with respect. Another soul resides in the very body you may temporarily desire and you recklessly using it wont ever set you free. A good woman is hard to find. She is worth far more than diamonds, you will trust her without reserve and never have reason to regret it. She is never spiteful and will always treat you generously. She will be wise and kind. She’ll make a house feel like a home. She will be your peace in a stressful world. Making you know in your core that you always have someone to lean on. Don't break others on your way to her and don't be deceived by those who aren't like her. She is the substance of things hoped for.

6. Last but not least, have patience, hope and faith, the best things usually come with them. No matter how long it takes or how many times you fall, gradually the things you desire will come to you. Too many people make mistakes when they’re too eager. They go for the first opportunity that presents itself, wether its in work or in their love life, patience should always be one of the first things put forward. Learn to slow down and you’ll find yourself having better judgement regarding the things you are pursuing.

I look forward to teaching you even more of what my mum taught me, things I learnt alone and things I've learnt on my journey with your dad and from him. I look forward to watching you blossom with strong values regarding life, love, family, ambition and all the hurdles that come along the way.

Dear future Daughter,
Its Valentines day and today I want to tell you 5 things I wish someone told me as a kid.

1. The good book says "He who finds a wife finds a good thing & obtains favour from the Lord " {Proverbs 18:22}. See, your value was predetermined long before you even knew you. You're a good thing and just like treasure you're to be found. You don't need to convince a man to love you, let alone like you because the man who's missing his rib is out here searching for it. When he finds you. He will love you to the very core of everything lovely.

2. Education, Ambition, Discipline & Dedication are acquired skills. I hope you surround yourself with more people who may be going somewhere slow than people who are going no where fast. The 5 people in your life you spend the most time with are the ones who mould you into who you think you should be or are. Don't ever underestimate yourself, all your mama ever birthed is trophies lol.

3. Strength does not equate firm guard up & harsh personality. You don't have to risk your feminity to portray a woman who can hold her own & handle her business. It's ok to be seen as the beautiful AND intelligent girl whos strong, but still wants her hand held & her forehead kissed. Letting him lead doesn't make you any less of a woman, You should know you're Daddy's Princess & your future King's Queen. Be tender in your strength & have faith ALWAYS.

4. Travel. the world isn't portrayed in its true essence on the media. You won't really KNOW the diversity in culture, beauty & cuisine unless you see, touch & taste it yourself. For instance, mama's favourite ice cream is from this little corner shop in Prague & the first time I cried amongst people was at a concentration camp in Austria & your grandmother tried to pull Santa's beard off in Finland when I was 11 only to realise it was VERY real lol. I knew I wanted to see the whole world at 7 when I got on a plane alone to go live on a VERY different continent.

5. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but don't let society mould you into what it wants to behold. Be an example, be good & bougie lol. You are worthy and you only ever need to express yourself in your way and see yourself through my eyes.